A call to join one billion women across the planet in a revolution to end violence against women rang out last Thursday.
The call, “I strike, I rise, I dance,” was heard by some 100 people who attended One Billion Rising at the Ross Street Plaza.
Along with music and dance, speakers shared their reasons for joining the revolution, including alarming statistics.
In a voice shaking with emotion, Jan Seelinger of the SAFE Society noted more than 60,000 women in B.C. are sexually or physically beaten every year, one in five Canadian college women are sexually assaulted and one in four Canadian teenagers are being victimized.
“I rise because I am over a society that blames women for being raped…,” Seelinger said. “Violence against women is not a women’s right issue, it is a human rights issue and it is a global epidemic.”
Grade 12 student and member of the Salmon Arm Secondary leadership group, Rachel Witt told the crowd she was rising for her generation of women.
Witt noted one in three teen girls reports knowing a friend who has been hit, pushed, kicked, slapped, choked or otherwise physically hurt by their boyfriends.
“An alarming number of teens in dating relationships are being controlled, threatened and humiliated using social media and cell phones …,” Witt said. “I rise for my classmate who is being told what to wear, who to talk to and how to act. And I rise for her friend who is afraid to ask to be let out of her boyfriend’s car when he’s scaring her or acting creepy.”
RCMP Const. Yvonne Dibblee, who stood listening, agreed the incidence of violence against women is high in the Shuswap.
Very supportive of One Billion Rising, Dibblee said it is up to older women to act as role models for young women and be there to support them.
SAS students Courtenay Bumby and Emma Rosell were pleased to see so many women taking part.
“I was talking to a friend in Belgium,” said Rosell. “They’re doing the same thing in Brussels. I think it’s really amazing that it’s all over the world; it makes it so much stronger... That’s a huge power coming together.”
She said she thinks violence against high school girls is a big issue.
“I really think it is and a lot of people are scared to talk about it... It’s not something you’re supposed to live with.”
Prior to taking her place at the microphone, Bonnie Thomas of the Neskonlith band said she suffered abuse for 20 years – 10 years of verbal and physical abuse from her partner, and 10 years of shame and counselling.
Traditionally, First Nations women were highly valued and included in all major decisions, something that has changed.
“Young boys play sports and learn there are winners and losers,” Thomas said. “Young girls are given dolls and told they have to learn to get along with everyone.”
Rosey Guthrie and Shannon Hecker, along with Seelinger, organized the event. Although it was something they decided to do just the week prior, their intentions quickly evolved into a powerful gathering.
Guthrie, who read founder Eve Esler’s moving ‘Over It’ to the audience, noted organizers were lucky to have so much help from so many local businesses.
Hecker said she’s tired of the violence.
“I’m tired of listening to the news, day after day – a girl assaulted, a woman shot by her husband, I’m tired of (hearing in) my work, girls coming from trauma...”
She said she sent out emails promoting the event that said, “The planet will be rumbling with dancing feet.”
That’s what appealed to her about it.
“What I like about the vision is you can get angry, and have pain, and be inspired, and it can all be channelled by dance.”
Asking people if they’d heard about the revolution raised interesting discussions about what it would take for them to take action, she said, noting that in Pakistan, for instance, women have been killed for dancing.